Delayed Post-Game Thoughts:
1. The Stanford game was a borderline erotic experience based on situation, context, etc... But this game was the first time where ND started to look the part of an elite team, IMO.
Elite teams take the best shot from the opposition, but find ways to make big plays and then take control when the door opens. That's what ND did, between the Kareem/Love touchdown when VT had momentum, to the Dex 97-yarder when ND was on the ropes, to the demoralizing running game in the second half... ND didn't just 'find a way,' as BK likes to say... they found a way, and then elevated beyond that. They found a way, and then straight up clowned and demoralized VT.
Those types of plays to fight back and then take control are what you see from Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia (not Bama... they just steamroll from the open). When things go bad, they end up dominating anyway. ND seems to be developing that type of killer instinct, and they've got the talent, coaching, and development to back it up. How refreshing.
2. If Book connects on that deep pass to Finke on the second drive to go up 14-0, ND wins by 35 in a game that's never close.
3. If VT's trick play doesn't get called back, ND still rolls them in the second half.
4. You can see the young defensive linemen get better not just every game, but nearly drive-to-drive. Jayson A. is gonna be a problem. Ade O. gets better every time out. Jamir Jones was a liability in the first half, but was much better in the second half. Justin A. is showing flashes when he's getting reps on the inside. Elston is doing something right with these guys, and that doesn't even account for the pass-rush trio that get all the headlines.
5. Terry Joseph needs a raise. Jalen Elliott is getting a little better each game, which I'm sure is in part because he's playing with confidence right now. He's still probably the guy that's gonna get picked on when we play a team with a quality passing attack (Syracuse; USC), but he's not the same liability that he was last year. Griffith has had plenty of growing pains, but he's shown flashes. Gilman has been solid. The safety play is good enough that Lea is able to continuously be creative with the front 7. That's a great sign.
6. BK and Long are going to continue to fine-tune the offense, and it's gonna carry the defense through some of the attrition and rough spots that are bound to come up over the back half of the schedule. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
7. Phil Jurkovec is gonna play the whole fourth quarter against Pitt. I can feel it in my bones.
:mob
